Can opener



R. E. MCLEAN April 15, 1952 CAN OPENER 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed June 25, 1947 Robert EMcL aan R. E. MCLEAN April 15, 1952 CAN OPENER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed June 25, 1947 rvuQ/wbofc 1i obertE .M Lea/n/ Patented Apr. 15, 1952 CAN OPENER Robert E. McLean, Columbus, Ga., assignor to John C. Hockery, Kansas City, Mo., as trustee Application June 23, 1947, AASerialNO. 756,501 8 Claims. (Cl. 30-15) This invention relates to the class of cutlery and is directed particularly to improvements in can openers of the rotary drive wheel type.

An object of the present invention is to provide in a rotary drive wheel type of can opener wherein an oscillatable cutter carrier is employed, a novel resilient can rest mounted upon such oscillatable carrier and cooperating with a xed can rest to maintain the can in a desired position While the end of the can is being cut out.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener of the above described character wherein the said resilient can rest functions to improve the traction of the teeth of the can driving wheel with the under edge of the rim or ilange of the can with which said teeth engage to feed the can through the device in relation to the cutter.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in association with a can opener of the ro- 'tary drive wheel type and employing an oscillatable cutter carrier, a novel spring means for a resilient can rest mounted upon the cutter carrier, which has little tendency to oscillate the cutter carrier out of its operating position after it has been moved thereto by mechanism provided for such purpose.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a can opener -of the rotary drive wheel type, employing an oscillatable cutter carrier which is not only maintained in exceptionally good alignment but which lies near the lateral plane of an operating gear quadrant forming part of the can puncturing thrust mechanism, which assures maximum eiiiciency and minimum friction between operating parts for easiest puncturing of the end of the can by the cutter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener of the rotary drive wheel type, employing a gear quadrant as a p-art of a thrust mechanism by means of which a cutter is caused to penetrate or puncture the can top and an oscillatable cutter carrier, in which the said gearv quadrant is independently pivoted from the lcutter carrier in such manner that either is entirely free to oscllate independently of the other within predetermined limitations 'and such free and independent oscillatory movement of either the gear quadrant or the oscillatable cutter carrier, one with respect to the other, within such predetermined limitations is assured throughout the life of the device.

A further and more speciiic object of the ineasy to operate, eicient and inexpensive to produce.l

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be understood as limited to the exact details of construction shown and described since obvious modications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the right hand or outer side of a can opener constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the parts being in the position which they occupy when the cutter is in lowered or working position.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the left or inner side of the cutter structure, the handle or hand grip portion being broken away.

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of the opener.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 but showing the oscillatable cutter carrier turned or oscillated to non-working position.

Figure 8 is a view in elevation of the left hand or inner side of a second embodiment of the invention. wherein is also shown a Wall mounting arm in replacement of the handle or hand grip shown in Figure l.

Figure 9 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on the line 9--9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on the line I--IU of Figure 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, especially to Figures l to '7 inclusive, the numeral Ill generally designates the body of one embodiment of the present invention which is designed to be held in the hand for use. In this embodiment the numeral Il designates the body plate and formed integrally with such plate is the elongated portion l2 which forms a handle or hand grip.

The plate Il is of maximum dimensions'vertically as shown and the lower or bottom edge has formed integrally therewith the laterally turned or right angularly directed can rest I3 which lies upon the left or inner side of the body plate.

lin the lower part of the body plate II directly above the center of the can rest foot I3, the plate is provided with a circular opening I4 in which is mounted a journal I5. The periphery of this opening I4 constitutes a bearing for the journal I5, the journal being of a thickness slightly greater than the plate Ii as clearly shown in Figure 4. Y

Extending through the journal I5 is a shaft or stem I6 which forms an integral part of a thumb and finger operating crank Il. This crank or handle I'I is disposed upon the right hand or outer side of the plate II and the shaft i6 has mounted thereon, upon the outer side of the plate II, the gear pinion I8 while upon the opposite or inner side of the plate there is mounted on the shaft i6 the peripherally toothed can rim en-r gaging driving Wheel I9. The pinion I8 is secured between the side of the adjacent journal I5 and an intermediate portion I'I' of the handle and stem structure. The free end of the stem I6 is flattened or swaged as indicated at I6' against the adjacent Wheel IS! thereby securing this element-firmly against the journal l5 and at the sam-e time -securing the three elements l5, I8 and I9liirmly upon the stem.

Y The stem I6 is of polygonal cross section and the openings'in the elements through which it passes are of corresponding configuration and accordingly -it will 'be readily Aseen that upon rotation oi the crank or handle I'I these ,parts will turn as a unit.

Directly above the bearing opening I'll there is formed'through the body plate the Acircular opening .29; Through this opening extends the smaller diameter portion -a of a pivot pin 2l. Thereference character b designates a portion of this pin which is of slightly greater diameter and which is disposed upon the right hand lor outer side of the plate YI-I as shown in Figure 4.

Mounted for oscillation upon the portion b of the pin 2I is a quadrant plate 22,- the farcuate'edge 230i which is directed rearwardly irom the pin 2I and is located adjacent tothe rearward Vedge of the body plate I I. This rearwardly 'and down- Wardly directed arcuate edge 23 of the quadrant plate carries 'thelgear teeth 24 Awhich are designed to mesh with the teeth of the pinion I8 for effecting `theshiiting of the hereinafter described cutter intoand away from Vworking position .upon clockwise or counterclockwise turning respectively of the handle II.

The 'quadra-nt'plate v22 has formed therethrough the-short'arcuate slot 25 which slot `coincides with a' longer arcuate slot 26 which is formed in V.the body plate I I. These slots are o'f the same Width and Aboth are struck from the pivotal center for the pivot pin 2|.

-Encircling the smaller Aportion Ya oi the pin v2I is the 'journal collar 2l which positions in Va bearing opening 2-8 formed centrally in the oscillatable cutter carrying disk 29. This journal collar 2FI'hasan integral encircling flange c upon its inner or left end which bears against `the inner side of the disk 29 to maintain the latter in positionwithrespect to the body plate I I.

As Ashown in Figure 4 a portion of the `plate 29 is 'pressed 4out adjacent to its periphery to provide the oblique or angular section 39. This 'section 3U which is oblique to the plane of the disk 29 lhas secured therein the journal rivet 3I upon which is rotatably mounted the cutter disk 32. The cutter 'disk is thus maintained in a plane oblique to ythe plane of the body plate I vI and when -it is in working relation with the can rim engaging readily apparent.

driving wheel I9 as shown in Figure 4 the lower part of the periphery of the cutter overlaps the toothed periphery ci the driving wheel and is spaced slightly therefrom to provide clearance for the wall of the can, the rim or flange being interposed between the top of the toothed periphery of the wheel I9 and the overlying adjacent edge of the portion 39.

The rearward edge Aof the Vbody plate II is formed to provide or has attached thereto the inwardly extending can rim engaging rest 33, the bottom face of which is substantially in the plane of the bottom edge of the section 30 so that when the opener is in position upon the edge of a can the top' of rsuch edge or rim will have sliding contact with the underside of the rest 33 as will be Secured in the oscillatable cutter carrier 29 is the reduced end portion d of a coupling pin 34 which extends through the longer arcuate slot 26 of the body plate and into and through the shorter slot 25 of the gear quadrant 22. Thus it will be seen that theV quadrant 'has scopefor very slight oscillatory movement independently ofthe pin 34 and then connects with the pin and efectsits movement in the slot 26 and consequent oscillation of the cutter carrier plate 29.

At the forward lside of the oscillatable cutter carrier plate 29 'from the cutter 32 there is fixed' in the plate 29 below the horizontal plane .of the center of the plate as considered when the Lplate is in position to dispose `the journal pin 3| in a common vertical plane with 'the pin 2l and the stem I6', the rivet 35 which is of polygonal .cross section so that it is held against rotation in the plate. This rivet secures to the inner or left hand side of the plate 29A the terminal .portion 36 of a resilient can rest 31. As shown mest clearly in Eigure 6, this yresilient can .rest is in the icrmof .aU-shaped member, one side or leg ofwhich hasv the terminal .36 .integral therewith while the other side or leg is directed `below the plate 29 toward the body plate II and is free rof connection with eitherrof these parts. This resilientlower leg Awhich is designated di is free to flex upon the application of pressure which may be applied by the edge of arcan rim vengaging against the vunderside thereof duringztheoperation of cutting-cut the head or top of vthe can. As shown in Figure 7 when the thumb 'and .finger cra-nk or handle I1- is Vrotated counterclockwise the plate 29 will be oscillated to swing the cutterand the resilient can rest 3l' `upward-ly and for'- wardly and thus the rimfor flange of 'the-can may be readily positioned upon the vtoothed top edge portion of the driving wheel I9.

. Figures 8 to l0 inclusive illustrate a' second embodiment of the invention ldesigned .for mounting upon a wall bracket and employing a slightly modified spring rest construction.

- In this' vsecond embodiment ithe b'odyis gen"- erally designated 38 and comprises vthe arm 3'9 which is shown broken away at its rear'en'd but which is designed to Vbe attached to 'a suitable wall .plate 'mount or otherv Asupporting means. The forward portion of the arm'merges with the body plate 49, which plate is-of maximum:dimensions vertically, like lthe'plate II, and-artrite bottom edge has the inwardly turned' or directed can rest4I- This rest like the vrest I3 is designed to engage against the side wall of the can .While the top edge ofthe can flange bears against the fixed rest 42 which is integral with Athe bottom ed'geof Athe arm-3S)Y adjacent to vthe -rear portion of the plate 40 and cooperates with the resilient flange rest, about to be described.

Above the body engaging rest 4I the plate 40 has a bearing opening 43 for the reception of the journal 44. This journal has fixed therein and extending therethrough the shaft 45 which is of polygonal cross section and which has xed toits inner end the can rim engaging driving wheel 46 and supports at the opposite side of the journal 44 the gear pinion 41 which corresponds to the pinion I8. outwardly of this pinion 41 the shaft 45 supports a spacer washer 48 and upon the outer end of this washer it has secured thereto an end of a crank 49, the lower end of which, not shown, is adapted to have a suitable hand grip, not shown, secured thereto.

Above the bearing opening 43, there is formed in the body plate 40 an opening 50 through whichextends the smaller portion a' of a pivot pin 5I, the outel` end of which pivot pin is enlarged in diameter as indicated at b. This larger diameter portion b of the pin 5I carries a gear'segment 52 which is of the same form as the segment 22 to cooperate in the same manner with the gear pinion 41.

As shown in Figure 9 the smaller diameter portion a. of the pin 5I is of materially greater length than the small diameter portion a of the pin 2I and this portion a. carries the relatively long journal collar 53 which has the two spaced encircling flanges c. The end of the journal collar 53 nearest to the body plate 40 passes through the center of the oscillatable cutter carrying plate -54 and .the flange c nearest to the body plate 4I] engages the inner or left hand side of the plate 54 and maintains it in proper position with respect to the body plate.

The lower edge portion of the cutter carrying plate 54 is outpressed as shown in Figure 9, providing the angled or oblique portion 55 in which is mounted the journal rivet 56 which carries the disk cutter 51. This cutter, of course, cooperates with the driving -wheel 46 in the same manner as the cutter 32 cooperates with the driving wheel The oscillatable cutter carrier has a forwardly extending part 54 which terminates in the inwardly'turned flange 58. This flange 58 functions as a stop to limit the clockwise and counterclockwise oscillation of the resilient or yieldable can rest which is generally designated 59.

'I'he can rest 59 comprises a plate portion 60 which lies against the inner side of the portion `54' of the cutter carrier 54 and is pivotally connected therewith by the rivet 6I. The forward end edge of this plate 60 is cut off at aslight oblique angle to its length, providing the lower point or tip 62 which engages the adjacent side of the flange 58 and limits the downward swinging, movement of the plate 60 on the pivot 6I. Rearwardly of the pivot pin I6I the bottomedge of the portion 54 of the oscillatable cutter carrier 54 is provided with a recess 63. This providesv for slight movement upwardly beyond the bottom edge of the portion 54', of the inwardly extending horizontal portion 64 of the can rest 59.

x, The upwardly swinging movement of the can rest 59 is resisted by a spring arm 65, one end of which is engaged as at 65 in an aperture in the rear* end portion of the can rest plate 60, while the other end is in thevform of a portion of a loop '6lv which is engaged between the encircling -ilanges ,c p f the bearing collar 53, against the underside of such collar as is clearly illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.

The bottom part of the portion silient can rest 59 is normally disposed below the plane of the under face of the cank rim engaging rest 42, as shown in Figure 8, so that 'it will be apparent that when a can is mounted in the opener device-upon the top part of the periphery of the driving wheel 46 and the cutter 51 has been forced downwardly through the top of the can so that it will be in the position shown in Figure 8, upward thrust will be applied to the resilient rest 59 and the spring 65.will maintain the iiange in firm driving contact with the toothed edge of the wheel 46. j

While it is believed that the manner of using the present opener in both of its lembodiments will be readily apparent a short description of the operation will be given lin connectonwith the flrst mentioned embodiment, it being understood that such description of operation will apply also to the second embodiment except for vthe slight difference in the operation of the resilient can rest 59.

It is also to be understood that while the illustration of the second embodiment has not included the arcuate slots in the body plate 48 and gear segment 52 which cooperate with the pin 68 in the same way as the slots 25 and 26 cooperate with the pin 34, s-uch structure is duplicated in the second embodiment.

In operation of the opener, considering the structure illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, if the. oscillatable cutter carrier 29 is not in its extreme counterclockwise position, as illustrated in Figure '1, so that further Acounterclockwise oscillation thereof is prevented by the rivet pin or stud 34 engaging the lower end ofthe slot 26 of the body plate II, the operating handle I1 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figurel 1, until the plate 29 is in the position shown-in Figure 7. l

The device is then placed on the can so that the disk cutter 32 is over the rim or flange-of the can and the can rest 33 is above the rim or flange of-the can. As the device'is held'substantially horizontal by the handle I2, with one hand, the operating handle I1 is 'rotated clockwise with the other hand until'the end is cut out of the can, upon completion of which the operating handle I1 is rotated counterclockwise until further rotation is prevented by the rivet or pin 34 engaging in the lower end of the slot 26, as shown in Figure 7, thereby releasing the can from the device.

As the operating handle I1 is rotated clockwise, the oscillatable cutter carrierv 29 is oscillated from the position illustrated in Figure 1 to approximately the position shown in Figure 2, the disk cutter 32 puncturing the end of the canas it swings downwardly and-rearwardly, inasmuch as the teeth of the can driving wheel I9 engage with the under edge of the rimv or flange of the can. During such action the teeth 24- of l-the gear quadrant 22 are meshed with theteeth of the pinion I8 and the lower end of the slot 250i the gear quadrant seats against the pin or stud 34, thereby oscillating the cutter carrier 29 to approximately the position shown in Figure 2.

After the lower and forward tooth of the *gear ther `until the pin or stud 34 seats in the upper 64 I of thereend-of the slot126 of the body plate, thereby-preventing further oscillation of the cutter carrier. A slight backlash then exists-between the lo'wer end ofthe slot -25 of the -gear-quadrant -122 and the rivet pin or Astud 3'4, `Gravitysof the gear quadrant 22 -then causes vthe lower and forward tooth ofthe quadrant to ratcheton the `teeth of the pinion f8 as the operatingv handle Il Vis rotated furtherfclockwise Ato cut the end out ofthe can.

It is 'believed that it will be'readily apparent that reverse or counterclockwise rotation of "the operating Vhandle -Il 'will reverse the'stated vcperation Yof the parts'to return :the plate 2-9 to the position shown in Figure '7 vfor the releaseof .the canfrom the'device.

lvi'henla can is engaged in the device and the disk cutter `is Ain the` operating .position shown'in Figure 2, the .rim or ithe ange of 'the' can willV force'the lowerv portion orl foot d of the can rest 31 upwardly, `thereby placing the can rest, which .essentially a spring, under tension so that a downward pressure is exerted by the resilient can restv on the .rim or flange of the can, which not onlymaintains .the can in good alignment in the device as .the vend of the can is cut out, but also improves the traction of .the teeth .of .the can driving .wheel with vthe under edge of the' rim or ange of-the can. As shown, when inoperating position, the can rest 3l is .close to the disk .cut-

.ter 32, .but-swings upwardly and forwardly .as

the-.cutter is moved from its operating position.

Asgpreviously stated the operationof the second-embodiment isfessentially the same as that of the rstembodiment with the diierence that the resilientcan rest 59, instead of yielding as a result -of resiliency in itself, yields against the .resiliency of .the spring .arm 65 which normally urgesit to -swing downwardly to the position showninFigure 8.

I claim:

:1. In a canfopener ofthe rotary drive wheel type including :a body, ya lshaft l passing through and-.rotatably'supported.by the body, means for turning kthe shaft and a can rim engaging drivingvw'heel carriedby the shaft to turn therewith; azpivctsupport'on the body, a member mounted on^said Apivot support for turning movement, a cutter eccentrically carried by said member to be turned therewith in an arcuate path toward and away from :an operative position with respect to thedriving fwheel, ,a .pin carried by the member and extended perpendicuiarly therefrom for movement along an arcuate path concentric with the-turning center vof the member approximately .45, means for establishing a driving .coupling between said pin and the shaft "for imparting turning movement to the cutter` carrying memberlupon turningfo'f the shaft in a clockwise or eou'ri-terclockwise direction, a can rim engaging pressureapplying' element carried by the member to move there-with and adapted lto `engage and apply pressure to the top'edge of a-can-rim when 'sa-id vmember i-s-turned to movethe cutter into cooperative relation with fthe Vcan rim engaging'fdriving wheel, thefsaicl canrirn engaging' pressure applying Vmeans comprising -an element designed to-engage laerossthe rim of the-can, -a pivotal connectionY between lthe element and the cutter carrying member forosciliation ofthe elementon said-member on an aXisparallel with the turning-axis of Ithe cutter carrying member, and a springconnected-between said elementandthe cutter Vcarrying `member and normally resisting 8 oscillation offfthe element upon'movement ofthe element into contact vwith-a can '2. Inza can opener of the ,rotaryfdrive wheel type including a body, a shaft :passing through and-:rotatablysupported byfthe body,umean`s for turning .the shaft,- a' lcan rim :engaging driving wheel'carried by 'the shafteupon oneside of the body to :turn .with the shaft and -a gear pinion carried bythe Ishaft to .turn Vtherewith upon ithe opposite .side of 'the body `from said wheel; a pivot Yjournal'.carried by the body .in'spaeed :relation Y.with `thezshaft and parallel thereto, .a `mem-- ber .supported upon said journal for yturning movement, ya cutter eccentrically carried/,by @the member Ltornove therewith into and zout .of .operative relation with ...the driving wheel, said 'body having Van (arcuate slot therethrough concentric with the turning-axis of the member ,fa1ipin,car ried -by the member Vand -extending*through lsaid arcuate slot, a Vgear quadrant mounted-upon the body upon :the opposite side thereof .from the cutter carrying member and :extending across said slot, said pinion being adapted .to .have toothed connection with thegear quadrant upon rotation of the shaft in one direction to move the cutter to a .predetermined position away from .the driving ,wheel and upon .rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction .turning theeutt'erinto an operative relation with ,the driving wheel and thenrunning free of the quadrant forcontinued rotation of the shaft and driving wheel, anda coupling between .the quadrant and said pin.

.'3. A -ean opener of lthe character stated Tin claim 2, wherein the coupling between lthe quadrant and the pincomprises a shortarcu'ate slot inthe quadrant paralleling the 'rStsIotand through which' the pin extends.

4. A can opener Vof 'the' character stated .in claim 2, with a yieldabl'e can rim engaging ypressure applying means carried by the-cutter carryingmember .at the side-ofthe cutterremote from the pin.

5. A can opener of :the character vstated lin claim 2v, "with Va Ifixed ycan irim engaging l,element carried by'thebody at lone side of the driving' Wheel and cutter, and a yieldable can rim engaging pressure applying means vcarried bythe-cutter carrying -meniber and positioned-at the'sides of the cutter andr driving wheel `remote fron'rs'aid xed member.

AEf. A can opener of the character 'stated yin claim J2, "wherein said "cutter carrying member Yis in theY form 'of a disk, and va -yieldable -can -rim engagingpress'ure applying'me ans carrie'dby'and adjacent -lto -the periphery of lthe `disknpon the side of the cutter remote from said pin 'and' adapted to move downwardly intov contactfwith thetop'edgeofa can rim'whenthe disk is turned to `move 1 the cutter into cooperative -relationiwith thedriving Wheel.

1'?. A can opener of Mthe 'character stated .in c1aim2. wherein saidlcutter vcarryingmember lis in-the-fform of-a'disk, and a yieldablefcan rim---engaging =pressure applying means carried by and adjacent to vthe yperipheryof -the disk upon the side vof j-the cutter lremote from said -pin AYand adapted to move Adownwardly into contact with the top edge of a can rim when the disk is turned to move the cutter intoexaoperativeA relationlwith thefdriving wheel, said pressure applying 'means comprising -a Jsubstantially U-shaped element havinghspaced legs withlone of 'saidlegs beings'ecured; tothe-disk to maintain the U shapedimem beragainst movement'indepen'dently ofthe disk, the other'leg of thou-shaped member being-directed perpendicular to the plane of the disk and :free for yielding movement.

8. A can opener of the character stated in claim 2, wherein said cutter carrying member is in the form of a disk, and a yieldable can rim engaging pressure applying means carried by and adjacent to the periphery of the disk upon the side of the cutter remote from said pin and adapted to move downwardly into contact with the top edge of a can rim when the disk is turned to move the cutter into cooperative relation with the driving wheel, said disk having an extended portion parallel with the -body and said pressure applying means comprising a plate pivotally attached to said extended portion to oscillate on an axis parallel to the turning axis of the disk, an element integral with the plate for contacting the top edge of the can rim, and a spring connecting the plate with the disk supporting journal and functioning to resist movement of the plate in one direction under pressure applied thereto by the can rim.

ROBERT E. MCLEAN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,973,338 Fawkes Sept. 11, 1934 2,070,279 Killman Feb. 9, 1937 2,244,846 Moeller June 10, 1941 2,361,114 McLean Oct] 24, 1944 2,361,561 Mueller Oct. 31, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 163,846 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1933 576,102 France May 7, 1924 585,843 Germany Oct. 11, 1933 

